Author: Shaina Fimbel
District: Pawtucket
School: Samuel Slater Junior High School
A. Information Works
When you researched the community and district, you were provided tables to help with the task of making sense of the various graphs available on Information Works site. For your school report, you should make sense of the data one your own. Remember that you can email your instructor if you have any difficulties.
To research your school, you should consider the questions about schools that we brainstormed in class and decide on some questions that YOU think should be answered in your description of your school You should research at least four of the indicators on the school report page for your school to gather information that you feel will serve as evidence for your description.
Questions that you would like to find answers for:
1. What is the environment like inside the school? (classroom academic, social,
2. Where is the school located?
3. What is the student to teacher ratio?
3. What are the demographics of the students? (gender, economic status, race)
4. Funding?
5. Extra-curricular activities? (special programs, art, music, sports, etc)
6. School pride/spirit? (community involvement)
7. Facilities? (age of school, conditions-janitors)
8. How many students are in special education courses?
9. How well does this school perform on NECAPs compared to the state?
1. What are the demographics like of the students attending Samuel Slater?
Data:
651 students
35% black, 34% white, 29% hispanic, 2% Asian
54% male, 46% female
Summary statement: There is diversity among the students at Samuel Slater Junior High School. Out of the student population, 54% are male and 46% are female. The black (35%) and white (34%) population is about equal, and there is also a large number of Hispanic students (29%). Only 2% of the students are asian. Overall, there is near equal distribution of sexes and races in Samuel Slater.
Summary statement: Overall, Samuel Slater is below proficient in all areas compared to Rhode Island as a whole. In math, only 36% is proficient, compared to 51%. In reading, 43% versus 60%, and in writing, 37% compared to 42%. Both grade 7 and 8 take the NECAP exams every year. For 7th grade, only 34% of the students are above proficient and 66% is below. In reading, again only 39% is above proficient, and 57% is below. Grade 8 has tests in math, reading, and writing. For math, only 36% of students were above proficient, while 64% were below. Also, in reading it was 45% above, versus 55% below, and in writing there was 42% above and 37% below. In conclusion, the testing scores of Samuel Slater are below average and need to be improved.
3. How safe is the school environment?
Data:
20% of students were robbed at least once in school
8% are teased or bothered by other students
6% of students had someone try to sell them drugs at least once at school
Summary statement: Samuel Slater is a fair environment for students to be in. Many students have gotten robbed while being at school (20%) which I feel is a very high number for a middle school. Also, 8% of students are teased by other peers, and 6% have been offered to buy drugs while at school. However, on average there is less use of tobacco products in marijuana when compared to other Rhode Island middle schools. Overall the students said they feel safe while they are at school.
4. Special Education
Data:
Pawtucket:
84% non-recipients
14% general education with support
3% self-contained
Rhode Island:
84% non-recipients
12% general education with support
4% self-contained
.1% homebound/hospitalized
Summary statement: Samuel Slater's statistics for special education are very comparable to the rest of the state. A large portion, 84% of students, are not receiving an special education. Only 14% of students participate in general education with support, just slightly higher than the state average (12%). Again, the percentage of people who are self-contained are both low and similar. Also, there are no students from Samuel Slater that are homebound or hospitalized. Overall, the amount of students receiving special education in Samuel Slater is the same as the rest of Rhode Island.
B. SALT Reports
In addition to survey data reported in Information Works, the SALT Surveys and the SALT visit report provides an "on the ground" description of what a group of visiting evaluators found while visiting the school for several days. After learning more about the SALT cycle from the link above, review the most recent report for your school and summarize what you find:
Data of last SALT visit: 2007-2008
School Climate Results (scale based out of 0-5, 5 being the highest)
Teachers provide support- 3.1
Clarity of rules and expectations- 3.9
Students show commitment- 3.4
Positive student interactions take place- 3.5
Correlation between expectations of students and whether or not they receive reduced lunch prices
students who receive free/reduced lunches generally have lower expectations of themselves
Notes from Report: 2005-2006
Building
built in 1918, but recently renovated the parking lot, fencing, and multi-purpose field
three-story, red, brick building
brightly lit, clean, and full of colorful posters
Staff
58 full time teachers
one principal
one assistant principal
two secretaries
five custodians
seven cafeteria workers
seven teacher assistants
Extra-Curricular Activities
Child Opportunity Zone (COZ), parents workshops and sponsored clubs
15 after school clubs
reading and math homework sessions after school
interscholastic and intramural sports teams
Commendations:
Caring, involved teachers who "go the extra mile"
Foundation building in reading, writing, and problem solving
Recommendations:
Expand problem solving and reading instruction throughout all curricular areas
All students to solve problems independently
Increase in reading analysis and interpretation
Give feedback on students' quality of writing
Continue using graphic organizers and rubrics to improve writing
Hold high expectations for all students
Summary: The last SALT report for Samuel Slater took place in 2005-2006. Samuel Slater is a three-story, red, brick building, that is quite old; approaching its one hundredth year in operation. However, the school does make the effort to keep up with renovations. They recently renovated a parking lot, put in new fencing, and constructed a new multi-purpose field. Despite its age, inside the school it is brightly lit, extremely clean, and full of colorful posters. Overall, it is a very cheery and positive place for children to be working.
Samuel Slater has a very extensive staff working for them. It is composed of 58 full time teachers for the 651 students who attend (a ratio of about 11 students per teacher). There are also seven teacher assistant, one principal, one assistant principal, and two secretaries. Two other extremely important groups within the school include five custodians and seven cafeteria workers. The school is very well-staffed and is sufficient for the amount of students enrolled at Samuel Slater.
Samuel Slater offers many extra-curricular activities for its students. There are 15 after school clubs, reading and math homework sessions, as well as interscholastic and intramural sports. An interesting program this school offers is the Child Opportunity Zone (COZ). This is a program where parents can meet for workshops and discuss sponsored clubs and activities for their children. Samuel Slater provides many opportunities on varying fields for its students.
There were several commendations as well as recommendations for Samuel Slater. They were praised for having caring, involved teachers who "go the extra mile". Also, they have good foundation building in reading, writing, and problem solving. They were given many ideas for improvement as well. The school should expand their problem solving and reading instruction throughout all curricular areas. Also, students need to be solving problems more independently and increase their abilities in reading analysis and interpretation. The teachers need to give more feedback on students' quality of writing, as well as continue using graphic organizers and rubrics to help them improve it. Most of all, all the students at Samuel Slater must be held to high expectations.
School Research: Samuel Slater Junior High School
Author: Shaina Fimbel
District: Pawtucket
School: Samuel Slater Junior High School
A. Information Works
When you researched the community and district, you were provided tables to help with the task of making sense of the various graphs available on Information Works site. For your school report, you should make sense of the data one your own. Remember that you can email your instructor if you have any difficulties.To research your school, you should consider the questions about schools that we brainstormed in class and decide on some questions that YOU think should be answered in your description of your school You should research at least four of the indicators on the school report page for your school to gather information that you feel will serve as evidence for your description.
Questions that you would like to find answers for:
1. What is the environment like inside the school? (classroom academic, social,
2. Where is the school located?
3. What is the student to teacher ratio?
3. What are the demographics of the students? (gender, economic status, race)
4. Funding?
5. Extra-curricular activities? (special programs, art, music, sports, etc)
6. School pride/spirit? (community involvement)
7. Facilities? (age of school, conditions-janitors)
8. How many students are in special education courses?
9. How well does this school perform on NECAPs compared to the state?
1. What are the demographics like of the students attending Samuel Slater?
Data:
Summary statement: There is diversity among the students at Samuel Slater Junior High School. Out of the student population, 54% are male and 46% are female. The black (35%) and white (34%) population is about equal, and there is also a large number of Hispanic students (29%). Only 2% of the students are asian. Overall, there is near equal distribution of sexes and races in Samuel Slater.
2. NECAP Assessment (2006-2007)
Data:
Summary statement: Overall, Samuel Slater is below proficient in all areas compared to Rhode Island as a whole. In math, only 36% is proficient, compared to 51%. In reading, 43% versus 60%, and in writing, 37% compared to 42%. Both grade 7 and 8 take the NECAP exams every year. For 7th grade, only 34% of the students are above proficient and 66% is below. In reading, again only 39% is above proficient, and 57% is below. Grade 8 has tests in math, reading, and writing. For math, only 36% of students were above proficient, while 64% were below. Also, in reading it was 45% above, versus 55% below, and in writing there was 42% above and 37% below. In conclusion, the testing scores of Samuel Slater are below average and need to be improved.
3. How safe is the school environment?
Data:
Summary statement: Samuel Slater is a fair environment for students to be in. Many students have gotten robbed while being at school (20%) which I feel is a very high number for a middle school. Also, 8% of students are teased by other peers, and 6% have been offered to buy drugs while at school. However, on average there is less use of tobacco products in marijuana when compared to other Rhode Island middle schools. Overall the students said they feel safe while they are at school.
4. Special Education
Data:
Summary statement: Samuel Slater's statistics for special education are very comparable to the rest of the state. A large portion, 84% of students, are not receiving an special education. Only 14% of students participate in general education with support, just slightly higher than the state average (12%). Again, the percentage of people who are self-contained are both low and similar. Also, there are no students from Samuel Slater that are homebound or hospitalized. Overall, the amount of students receiving special education in Samuel Slater is the same as the rest of Rhode Island.
B. SALT Reports
In addition to survey data reported in Information Works, the SALT Surveys and the SALT visit report provides an "on the ground" description of what a group of visiting evaluators found while visiting the school for several days. After learning more about the SALT cycle from the link above, review the most recent report for your school and summarize what you find:Data of last SALT visit: 2007-2008
Notes from Report: 2005-2006
Summary: The last SALT report for Samuel Slater took place in 2005-2006. Samuel Slater is a three-story, red, brick building, that is quite old; approaching its one hundredth year in operation. However, the school does make the effort to keep up with renovations. They recently renovated a parking lot, put in new fencing, and constructed a new multi-purpose field. Despite its age, inside the school it is brightly lit, extremely clean, and full of colorful posters. Overall, it is a very cheery and positive place for children to be working.
Samuel Slater has a very extensive staff working for them. It is composed of 58 full time teachers for the 651 students who attend (a ratio of about 11 students per teacher). There are also seven teacher assistant, one principal, one assistant principal, and two secretaries. Two other extremely important groups within the school include five custodians and seven cafeteria workers. The school is very well-staffed and is sufficient for the amount of students enrolled at Samuel Slater.
Samuel Slater offers many extra-curricular activities for its students. There are 15 after school clubs, reading and math homework sessions, as well as interscholastic and intramural sports. An interesting program this school offers is the Child Opportunity Zone (COZ). This is a program where parents can meet for workshops and discuss sponsored clubs and activities for their children. Samuel Slater provides many opportunities on varying fields for its students.
There were several commendations as well as recommendations for Samuel Slater. They were praised for having caring, involved teachers who "go the extra mile". Also, they have good foundation building in reading, writing, and problem solving. They were given many ideas for improvement as well. The school should expand their problem solving and reading instruction throughout all curricular areas. Also, students need to be solving problems more independently and increase their abilities in reading analysis and interpretation. The teachers need to give more feedback on students' quality of writing, as well as continue using graphic organizers and rubrics to help them improve it. Most of all, all the students at Samuel Slater must be held to high expectations.